Tribe Relies on Voter Initiative

The Narragansett Indian Tribe is receiving no support from Rhode Island’s lead group backing voter initiative.  The tribe is attempting to receive a space on the November referendum ballot to propose a tribal casino.

The process of voter initiative is new in the state of Rhode Island.  It places power directly in the hands of citizens by allowing them to amend the state Constitution and alter laws without the sanction of a General Assembly.

The tribe has targeted West Warwick as the destination for their tribal casino.  Just last week, a West Warwick representative proposed a constitutional amendment that would give the tribe permission to construct their casino in the county.  The tribe would like to poll voters by allowing them to voice yea or nay in support of the casino.

Taking the appropriate initial steps to allowing voters to consider the casino, Matthew Thomas, chief sachem of the Narragansett Tribe, issued a letter to the Voter Initiative Alliance to plea for their support in getting the tribes casino proposal on the ballot.

The tribe has one strong supporter in Robert Flanders.  Flanders is a former Rhode Island Supreme Court justice and the current chairman of the Voter Initiative Alliance.  According to him, the tribe has a right to expect their proposal to appear on the ballot, however, the alliance has no point of view on the actually proposal. 

Thomas received a letter from Flanders on March 22.  In the letter, he stated, “VIA is not in the in the business of endorsing specific proposals to change the Constitution or our laws—except for getting the voter initiative itself on the ballot.”

The alliance themselves are pressing the General Assembly to have the November ballot carry the voter initiative issue.  

The fear critics have of voter initiative is that it may lead to bribery from special interest groups.  Voter initiative supporters are ready to empower voters with the ability to pass popular legislation when they are refused by lawmakers.

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